TANDAG CITY (MindaNews / 7 December) – The provincial government of Surigao del Sur has ordered the local government units (LGUs) to cancel their customary annual Christmas parties and instead donate the budget to victims of the powerful Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in the province.
In an order dated December 6, Governor Alexander T. Pimentel ordered the LGUs of the province’s 17 towns and two cities to cancel their Christmas parties and reallocate the funds to
provide essential aid for victims of the December 2 earthquake.
Pimentel noted it is the duty of the provincial government to safeguard the welfare of the public, including helping the quake victims, and to take measures to prevent any untoward incidents that may be caused by the recent earthquakes and aftershocks.
“Private companies, offices, and national government agencies are given the discretion to cancel their Christmas parties, but are encouraged to do so for the safety of their employees,” he added.
Pimentel also reported that the emergency operations centers have been actively conducting inspections and assessments to verify the structural integrity of schools, government buildings, roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructures, to ensure the safety of the public.
According to a situation report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management (NDRRMC) as of 8 p.m. December 5, a total of 274 barangays in Surigao del Sur have been affected by the strong temblor.
The quake affected 132,088 families or 526,013 individuals in Surigao del Sur, the report said.
Among them, 40,751 families sought refuge inside various evacuation centers, it added.
Pimentel noted that the province is still experiencing recurring tremors and strong aftershocks, which could persist for several days to months.
According to the NDRRMC, a total of 3,336 aftershocks were reported as of 4 p.m. December 5, with 2,717 stemming from the Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on December 2, and 619 aftershocks from the Magnitude 6.8 temblor in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur on December 5. (Ivy Marie Mangadlao / MindaNews)
